Dr. William I. “Bill”
Gay, who retired in
1988 after 34 years
of involvement with
animal issues at NIH,
died on Oct. 11 at
age 86 after a long illness.
He finished his
NIH career as director
of the Division of Research Resources’ Animal
Resources Program (ARP) and later served
as president of the NIH Alumni Association.

Gay earned his veterinary degree at Cornell
University in 1950 and came to NIH in 1954
after 2 years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
where he worked in experimental surgery.
He was chief of the NIH Animal Hospital until
1963, when he joined the Animal Resources
Branch of the Division of Research Facilities
and Resources, DRR’s predecessor.

In 1966, he moved to NIGMS as program director
for comparative medicine, a position he
held concurrently with program administrator
for the radiology and physiology training programs.
In 1967, he became chief of the NIGMS
Research Grants Branch and also was involved
in developing a special research program on
trauma and injury. After a stint as acting associate
director of NIGMS, he moved to NIAID in
1971 as associate director of extramural programs,
a position he held until returning to
DRR in 1980.

Gay was national president of the American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science in
1968 and served on many NIH committees. He
was most proud of overseeing the evolution and
growth of ARP’s involvement in AIDS research by
developing animal models and animal resources
in all seven DRR-supported regional Primate
Research Centers. The first major conference on
AIDS in non-human primates was organized by
Gay and others at NIH in March 1983.

“Bill was a remarkable man who during the
course of his life and career made many important
seminal contributions to our field,” said Dr.
Robert Weichbrod, chief of NEI’s animal program
administration. “He was a strong advocate
for the humane care and use of animals in
research, testing and teaching. He was a colleague, mentor and friend to many
and will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.”

After retiring from NIH, Gay worked for a number of years as a veterinary consultant
on animal care and use policies and procedures at R.O.W. Sciences, Inc.,
in Rockville.

He is survived by his wife Millicent C. Gay of 64 years and many relatives and
friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by the
Maryland State Anatomy Board.

NCCAM’s Batten To Retire After 42+ Years

Willer “Dean” Batten, who has served at NIH for more
than 42 years, will retire from the federal government
on Jan. 3, 2013.

She began her federal career in April 1972 in Bldg.
31’s housekeeping department, where she worked for
6 months. It was obvious to others that she was destined
for other things, so she moved to the Division
of Research Grants. At DRG, she organized enormous
amounts of incoming grant applications.

In 1990, Batten was hired as a clerk at the National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases. She was there for nearly 10 years and is remembered for her willingness
to assist in times when the institute was short-staffed.

In 1999, she moved to the National Cancer Institute as a grants technical assistant.
She reviewed all applications and summary statements prior to processing
the Notice of Grants Awards, among other duties, in the Grants Management
Office. She juggled the requests of many individuals in her office, always with a
cheerful smile.

In 2000, Batten moved to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, which had recently been established. She performed general office
support duties there for the last 12½ years.

Batten looks forward to retiring to North Carolina to be with family and friends.
She plans to travel to places she always wanted to see but could not because of
work obligations.

“That’s one good thing about retirement,” she said. “I can travel!” Batten also
plans to work at her church and get more exercise. “Maybe even walking the
long beaches!”

Stokes Earns Two Charter Certifications

NIEHS veterinarian Dr. William Stokes is among the first
groups of scientists awarded diplomates in new specialties
created by the American Academy of Environmental
Engineers and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
He is the only NIH scientist to earn certifications in
the specialties. AAEE selected Stokes as one of its inaugural
21-member group of board-certified environmental
scientists. AVMA named him to its group of 27 charter
diplomates of the American College of Animal Welfare. He
is the sole federal scientist in the group. Stokes is a career
officer and assistant surgeon general in the Public Health
Service Commissioned Corps.

NIMH clinical director Dr. Maryland Pao has been named the 2012 recipient of the Simon Wile Leadership in Consultation Award by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). The award acknowledges “outstanding leadership and continuous contributions in the field of consultation-liaison child and adolescent psychiatry.” Wile, for whom the award is named, was a renowned pediatrician and advocate of child psychiatry.

Pao completed residency training in pediatrics, psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital and is board-certified in these specialties and psychosomatic medicine. In addition to her role as NIMH clinical director, a post she’s held since 2008, she is chief of the Clinical Center’s Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service, which offers psychiatric evaluation for participants in CC research studies. She is current chair of the Clinical Center medical executive committee. She is also on the clinical faculties at the schools of medicine at Georgetown University, George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University.

Pao’s research has encompassed psychopharmacologic and psychosocial studies of cancer, human immunodeficiency virus and pain management in children. A central theme in her clinical research, exemplified by recent papers, has been a call for attention to the psychological and developmental needs of children and adolescents with serious illness and who experience long hospitalizations. She is a sought-after expert in pediatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, lecturing and consulting widely and serving on numerous national committees.

The Wile Award was presented at the 2012 annual meeting of AACAP in October, at which Pao gave an honors lecture on pediatric psychiatry.

Arthritis Patient-Advocates Tour NIH

NIAMS recently hosted a visit for eight patient-advocates from the International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the biomedical research and training supported by NIH prior to their participation in a patient advocacy event sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology in Washington, D.C.

The guests heard presentations from Anita Linde, director of the NIAMS Office of Science Policy, Planning and Communications, NIAMS scientific director Dr. John O’Shea and clinical director Dr. Richard Siegel. They visited two NIAMS labs and toured the Clinical Center, where they learned how the hospital operates and what research is being conducted there.

“I was very impressed with the Clinical Center and how beautiful the facility is,” one of the guests commented. “It shows that the NIH cares about the general well-being of the patients,” she added. The visitors also shared positive feedback about their visit to NIH via Twitter.

Kastner Elected to Institute of Medicine

Dr. Daniel Kastner, scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, is one of 70 new members elected to the Institute of Medicine. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

“The Institute of Medicine is greatly enriched by the addition of our newly elected colleagues, each of whom has significantly advanced health and medicine,” said IOM president Dr. Harvey Fineberg. “Through their research, teaching, clinical work and other contributions, these distinguished individuals have inspired and served as role models to others. We look forward to drawing on their knowledge and skills to improve health through the work of the IOM.”

New members are elected by current active members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM has become recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues.